Automatic circular-knitting machine



(No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet l.

W. E, STEWART. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.'

(No Model.) f'Sheets-Sheet 2. W. H. STEWART.` AUTOMATIC CIRCULARKNITTINGMAGHINE.

No. 529,509. PatentedNo-v. 20, 1894.

(No Model.)

W. E. STEWART.

. '2'l Sheets-Sheet 3.

AUTOMATIG CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

reg e (No Model.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 4. W. H. STEWART. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

No. 529,509. Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

, [il] A I MN "e MMM @Home/111,8-

(No Model.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 5. W. H. STEWART. AUTCMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

7 T R A W E T S E W AUTOMATIC GIRGULAR KNITTING MACHINE. No. 529,509.

Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

'mi Noam PETERS co.. Puommmo.. wAsn (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

W. H. STEWART. AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR KNITTINC MACHINE.

N0.`529,509. Patented Nov. 20, 1894.

MTNA-5555:

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UNTTED STATES PATENT @Tricia IVALTER I-I. STEWART, FRANKLIN, NEVHAMPSHIRE.

AUTOMATIC CIRCULAR=KNITTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 529,5C 9, datedNovember 20, 1 894. Application filed April 25, 1894. Serial No.508,968. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER H. STEWART, of Franklin, in the county ofMerrimac and State of New Hampshire, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Automatic Circular-Knitting Machines, of whichthe following is a specification.

The invention relates to the class or kind of circular knitting machineswhich are adapted to knit seamless round-heel-and-toe stockings, and inwhich the several operations and changes are automatically accomplished.

It is the object of the invention to provide such improvements inmachines of the kind mentioned as will materially simplify and reducethe cost of their construction, and render them entirely certain andrapid in their operation.

The invention consists of the improvements hereinafter fully describedand pointed out at the end of the specification proper.

Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters,signs and figures of reference marked thereon, forming a part of thisspecification.

Of the drawings, Figure lis a top plan view of my improved knittingmachine. Fig. 2 is a side View of the same, parts being representedasbroken away. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the needlecylinder and its immediate adjuncts. Figs. 3 and 3b are detail viewshereinafter referred to. Fig. et is a sectionalv detail View of theneedle and cam cylinders and connections showing a different position ofsome of the parts from that in which they are shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 isa central sectional View of the erating in conjunction with the drivingshaft and its supports. Fig. 6 comprises side and end views of theclutch roll. Fig. 7 comprises top plan, side, and bottom plan views ofthe means for moving the needle throwing out ring. Fig. 8 is a top planview of the head and portions of its adj uncts, the needles, webholdersand Web-holder operator means being removed. Fig. 9 is a detail view ofa part ot' the means for operating the needle shifter slides. Figs. lO,l1, and l2 are detail views hereinafter more particularly referred to.Fig. 13 is a detail view of a portion of the mechanism employed inchanging from circular to heel and toe work. Fig. let is a side partsopview of the yarn supplying device. Fig. l5

shows a view of the yarn-carrier looking to- Wa rd the yarn-deliveryportion thereof. Fig. 16 is a detail view of the yarn guide plates.Figs. 17 and 18 comprise front and side views respectively, of theratchet and cam Wheels and the co-operating parts. Figs. 19 and 20 aredetail views hereinafter more particularly referred to. Fig. 2l is aview of the pin, 02, cam, n3, and spring 03. Fig. 22 is afront and edgeView of the collar, o. Fig. 23 is a detail of the block, d4. Fig. 24 isa detail view showing the block (t3), in different positions.

` The saine letters, signs and figures designate the same parts orfeatures, as the case may be, wherever they occur.

In the drawings-a designates the bed of the machine, which, togetherwith other parts of the machine is supported by columns, b, restingupona base, c, which base may in turn be supported by legs, d, (a fragmentonly of which is shown in Fig. 2.)

e designates the needle cylinder, and, f, the rotary cam ring orcylinder provided on its periphery with bevel teeth, g, Which areengaged by the teeth of the bevel gear, h, on the driving shaft, 7,'. Onthe outer end of the driving shaft are the pulleys, j 7c both loosethereon.

Z designates a gear wheel j, so as to turn therewith.

m is a gear Wheel arranged to turn loosely on the shaft, t', andmaintained in place there on between the hub, n, of bevel gear, h, and acollar, 0, fast on the driving shaft, the latter turning in thebearings@ q, at its ends.

r designates a collar keyed or otherwise secured to the driving shaft atthe inner side of the gear Wheel, Z to keep the wheel, j, from movingtoward the wheel, m.

s designates a clutch roll arranged so as to move longitudinally on thedriving shaft between the collars, 0 r, and gear Wheels, lm., but lockedwith the collar, o, by means of the projection, if, extending over thereduced part, tt, of the said collar so as to turn with the drivingShaft. See Figs. 5 and 6. The collar, 0, is fastened upon the shaft bymeans of the set-screw, y.

The gear Wheels, Z in, are provided with holes, Q), into which thespring-pressed pins,

secured to pulley,

w, extending from the ends of the clutch roll,

IOO

s, are adapted to extend,the construction and arrangement being suchthat when the clutch roll, S, is moved toward the gear, Z, the pin, w,in the adjacent end ot' the said roll will extend into the hole, fu, ofthe said gear, the pin in the opposite end being disengaged from thegear, m, all as is clearly shown in Fig. 5; and when the clutch roll ismoved in the opposite direction, it will be disengaged from the gear, Z,and the other pin engaged with the gear, m. I

designates a gear wheel supported on a suitable stud orjournal andarranged so as to be engaged and driven by the gear wheel, Z. The gear,is provided on its inner face with a wrist pin, fy, upon which ispivoted one end of a crank arm, z, the other end of the said crank armbeing pivotally connected with the rear end of rack bar, ct', mounted insuitable bearings and arranged so as to engage and operate the gearWheel, m, on thedriving Shaft, i. v y v l Y g Without furtherdescription it will be seen that if the driving shaft should be rotated'continuously in one direction by a belt on the pulley, j, and theclutch roll shouldY be moved into engagement with the wheel, Z, and

disengaged from the wheel, m, as is shown'in Fig. 5, the cam ring wouldbe revolved so as to enable the machine to knit circular Work, as, forinstance, the leg and foot portion of a stocking; but if the clutch rollshould `be moved so as to disengage it from the gear wheel, Z, andbecome engaged with the gear, m, the cam ring,f, would, through themedium of gear, :nwith the reciprocating rack bar, a', be reciprocated,as is necessary when heel and toe'WOrk is to be performed on themachine. The change in the movement of the cam ring is accomplishedautomatically, and this part of the invention will next be explained.

b is a rock shaft, supported in asuitable bearing, and provided on itsinner end with a forked extension, c', having screws, d', the inner endsof which extend into blocks placed in a groove, e', of the clutch roll,s. The outer end of the shaft, b,is provided with a downwardly extendedlever or projection, f', notched or grooved to receive the periphery ofthe disk, `g', xed upon a shaft, h', arranged to rotate in suitablebearin gs, as is best shown in Fig. 1. The disk, g', is provided at asuitable point or points with a cam part, t", which operates inthegroove in the lower end of the 1ever,f, to move the latter to oneside and back again and so rock bearings and ship or shog the clutchroll, so as to effect a rotation or reciprocation of the cam ring, asmay be necessary or desirable.

Thewheel, g,remains stationary during the leg and foot portions of thestocking, the lever, f', at such times resting inthe cam portion, 'Z'.See Figs. 1, 2, and 17. This cam portion is of sufficient length toallow for the necessary motion of the machine in changing from oneoperation to another. During the leg portion of the stocking the lever,f', rests in said the shaft, b', in its cam portion, and during the heeland toe portion of the stocking the lever, f", is upon the straightportion of the heel, g', and the clutch has been shifted, the clutchbeing shifted as the lever f', is thrown into and out of the camportion, t", of the wheel, g.

j', (Fig. 13,) designates a cam fixed upon the hub, n, of gear wheel, h;and, Zt', designates a lever pivoted to the frame at its rear end andheld up against the cam,j, by a spring, Z.

y Pivoted upon the forward end of the lever, Za', is a .pawl, Im', heldinto engagement with the teeth of a ratchet wheel, n', fast onshaft,Zt', by means of a spring, o. A spring, n2, bears upon the periphery ofthe wheel, n', to steady the action of said wheel and check its movementbeyond the point where itis moved by the action of the `pawl, m. As thedriving shaft, t', is rotated the lever, lo', will be oscillated bymeans of the cam, j, and spring, Z', and consequently the ratchet wheel,n', will be rotated to the extent of one tooth at each movement of thesaid lever, lo', until the pawl, 1n', reaches a point, indicated at p',where one tooth of the said ratchet wheel is mutilated or cut away, whenthe said pawlwill cease to operate the said ratchet wheel until thelatter is vmoved by other means to the extent at. least of one tooth.

By the construction and arrangement described in other parts of thespecification, the wheel, n', remains stationary during the leg portionof the stocking or straight knitting, and only operates during theknitting of the heel and toe portion of the stocking.

q' designates a' ratchet wheel arranged to turn loosely on the shaft,Zt', and engaged by a spring-pressed pawl, r', on the lower end of alever, s', the upper end of which lever is adapted to be engaged by ablock or projection, t', arranged on the lower face of the outer end ofthe rack bar, 01,', as shown in Fig. 12, or extending from the side ofthe outer end of the said/rack bar, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thelever, s', would have its upper end arranged opposite the bar, ot', inthe construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, and under the endof said bar inthe construction shown in Fig. 12. y

u designates a spro ket wheel connected with the ratchet Wheel, q', soas to revolve therewith, over which sprocket wheel there is arranged achain or belt, o. (see Fig. 17,) having laterally projecting pins, w',arranged so as to engage the radially projecting pins, on the peripheryof a disk, y', connected with the ratchet wheel, n', so as that when thedisk, y', is moved' it may move the said ratchet wheel, fn. With thisconstruction and arrangment of parts it will be seen that the ratchetwheel, q', will. be moved intermittently by the pawl, r', but that theshaft, h', will be rotatedlonly when the pawl, m', is permitted toengage the teeth of the ratchet wheel` n', soy that when the pawl,'m',reaches a point,p, on the ratchet wheel, n', the latter will not bemoved until a IIO projecting pin, w', on the chain or belt, n', engagesa radially projecting pin, x', on the periphery of the disk, y', so asto move the said disk and the ratchet wheel, n', to enable the pawl, m',to catch a tooth on the lastmentioned ratchet wheel.

The construction and arrangement of parts last hereinbefore described,it will be understood by those skilled in the art, is devised for thepurpose of economizing diameter or extent of the ratchet wheel, n',which moves the disk, g', and controls the movement of the clutch rolland consequently the rotary and reciprocating movements of the cam ringf.

As hashereinbefore been indicated the cam ring is revolved to producecircular knitting in the knitting of half hose or stockings, andreciprocated to produce heel and toe work, and in the knitting of thelatter work, substantially one half of the needles are first renderedinoperative, and then the remaining operative needles are graduallyretiredfone by one vholding` the stitches formed thereon, tov narrow,and then, one by one, brought into operation to widen and form a roundor bulge toe or heel, and this part of the invention will next bedescribed.

.ej designates a ring providedwith a flange, a2, the said ring beingsupported on the bed, a, and the said fiange, a2, affording a supportfor the cam ring, f, and other parts of the machine, as will presentlyappear. In the present instance the web is held down so as to preventits rising by the upward movement of the needles by means of webholders, b2, which also help to draw the stitch and which are supportedin radial grooves in a bed, c2, suitably fastened to the needlecylinder, and are reciprocated by cams, (Z2, on the under face of thering, e2. The needles, f2, are reciprocated in the grooves of the needlecylinder, e, by means of the cams, g2. These contrivances may be ofcommon or suitable form and arrangement, and need not be furtherdescribed. The grooves in the needle cylinder, in which needles whichare thrown into and out of action, reciprocate, are constructed so thatby moving the lower end or tail of the needle inward, the heel, h2, ofthe needle may be moved out of the path of the cams, g2. (See Fig. 4:.)Any construction of the grooves in the needlecylinder which will permitof this function will answer the purposes of my invention.

i2 y2, designate needle shifters, so called, which are adapted to bereciprocated in grooves formed in the upper face of iiange, a2, theShifters, t2, being provided at theirinner ends with notches or socketsin which the tails of the needles employed in widening and narrowing areadapted to move, and the shifters,j2, in like manner engaging at theirinner ends thetails of the needles thrown out of action before beginningthe knitting of heel and toe work.

k2 designates a ring arranged in a groove, Z2, formed in the upper faceof the tlange,ct2,

and fitting between a central rear heel, n2, of the shifters,j2. Thegroove, Z2, is sufficiently wide to permit the ring, 7a2, to be movedfrom side to side to an extent sufficient to move the needle Shifters soas to disengage the needles connected therewith from and bring them intoengagement with the needle-actuating cams. Plus, o2, o4 extend up fromopposite sides of the ring, k2, through slots, p2, formed in the flangeof the cam ring,f. Ring, k2, is revolved with the cam ring,f, by meansof the pins, 02, o, in the slots, p2. The pin, o2, co-operates with thecams, n3, to slide the ring, 702, while the pin, 04, at the oppositeside of the said ring from the pin, o2, operates the yarn attachment.Shown in detail in Figs. 14 to 16. Both pins are essential to make thering travel steady. Attention is especially called to the location ofthese pins, the pin, 04, being at the opposite side of the ring from thepin, o2. This pin, ofi, is adjacent to the knitting cams and yarndevice, so that by this simple mechanism, when the ring is shifted theyarn can be changed or thickened.

The ring (k2) is automatically slid to the left or to the right as themachine is represented in Fig. 8, in order to render operative orinoperative the instep needles which are controlled by the needleShifters between the points 2 2 during round-audround work orback-and-forth work respectively. At the beginning of round-and-roundwork the pin (o4) and its side of the ring (7a2) is moved to the left inFig. 8, or to the right in Fig. 14; that is, away from the center of thecylinder and retained in such position by one of the raised points onthe cam (n2). See Fig. 7. The outward movement of the pin (04) operatesthe yarn changer to keep the thickening yarn (m4) away from the needlesso that it will not knit, asis shown in dotted lines in Fig. 14. Thering (k2) being slid outward in the vicinity of the knitting cams (g2),(the knitting cams (g2), the yarn thickening device, and the pin (04)being substantially in the same radial line,) as the knitting cams (g2)and the ring (7.92) rotate together the ring (k2) pulls by means of theShifters the instep needles outward so that the heels (h2) of theseneedles are in the path of said knitting cams. In Fig. 3 the camcylinder and ring k2 are shown as turned half Way round from theposition in Fig. 8. At the beginning of back-andforth work, the cam (n3)is shifted so that the ring (k2) can be slid toward the right in Fig. 8by means of the spring (o3) forcing the pin (o2) into one of thedepressions in the cam (n3). This operation moves the pin (04) and itsportion of the ring inward. The inward moveheel, m2, and

ment of the pin (o4) permits the arm ot' the yarn changingdevice toassume the full line position shown in Fig. 14 to permit the extra yarnto be knitted, the ring (k2) in the vicinity of the knitting cams (g2)being also forced inward and retained in this position by the spring(03). See Fig. 2l. During back- IOO IIO

and-forth work,as the knitting cams (g2) and the ring revolve together,the ring (k2) forces the needle Shifters of the instep needles inward,and hence the heels (h2) of Said needles will be forced inward out ofthe path of the knitting cams (g2).

I do not confine myself to the -form'of needle Shifters Shown, nor tothe 'precise -form of means illustrated for actuating the same, since itis obvious that thesey things may be greatly varied within the limits ofmechanical skill Without departing from the nature or spirit of myinvention. For example, the Shifters may be made in the form Shown inFig. 3, and both 0f the Shifters, i2, and j?, may be made with a singleheel instead of forming the Shifters, jz, with double heels, and insteadof operatingthe shiftersj2 by a ring between two heels as hereinbeforedescribed, the ring, 7a2, may have 'a groove formed in its lower sidei-nto which the heels of the shifters,`j2,

,and consequently out of may extend, as Shownin Fig. 3*. )Vhen the`shiftersare thus operated, they may have but a single heel. Again theslides, q2. may be made solid, and have what is called an oft'- setformed thereon and work Shifters provided withdouble heels instead ofhaving a vgroove formed in the slides, `and engaging la single heel otthe Shifters.

q2 designates slides arranged inthe grooves, r2, formed in the uppersurface of the Hange, ft2, 'and at substantially opposite sides of themachine. The Said slides are provided with tails, sagai'nst which thebutts, t2, of the Shifters, i2, rest when the needles controlled by Ithesaid shifters are in action. The `yslides are :also provided with theinclined and concentric slot, u2, so constructed and arranged as that'when the Slides are moved in the direction of lthe arrow markedthereon, the heels of the shifters, 2, will move down the inclined "partinto the concentric part of the groove, u2,'an`d move the said shiftersinward,'and the needles controlled thereby also inward out of the pathof the needle operating cams,

action.

'v2 Vdesignates segmental slides provided with notches on their-edges'andarranged in a'groove, 102, formed in the lower face of the liange,a2. The said segmental Slides e2 are yplaced below the slides, qfand areconnected therewith by screwsz, extending up through Slots, y2. (Seedotted lines Fig. 8.)

The shiftersyif, engage and 'control the needles between' the points, L23 (Fig. 8).

"e2 (Fig. ll) designates a cam disk. or `flange connected with theratchet wheel, n', and provided with two cams orswells, d3; and, b3,designates one arm of an langular lever f-ulcrumed at c3, the free endof the said arm, b3, resting upon the disk or ange. z2, and in the pathof travel of the cams, a3. Theother'arm, d'of the said angular leverextends up al- 'most vertically and is pivoted at its lupper end to aspring-pressed rod e3, the free end of which "is beveled and arranged sothat ritinay bethrust under a pin, f3, arranged in a bearing, g3, andraise the said pin. The free en'd of the lever, b3, rests between thesecams, a3, while Ythe shaft, h', is stationary; that is', 'during Vtheleg portion of the stocking. The tirst one of these cams operates tothrow the lever, h3, through the medium of the lever, cl3, to 'shiftthe'ring, k2, at the beginning of the recip'rocator'y'motionof themachine, while the other cam, a3, moves vthe said parts'to turn the cam,n3, Sotha't the pin, 02, is engaged by one of the vraised portions onsaid cam, n3, to turn the cam (n3) at the beginning of back-and-forthWork so that the spring ('03), see Fig. 2l, `can force the pin (o2) intoone of the depressions in said 'cam (n3), while the other cam (a3) movesthe said parts to turn the 'cam (n3) so that one of its raised pointsshall strikethe pin (o2) and force the ring (k2) against 'the tension ofthe spring (03) into position for round-'and-roun'd work.

The pin, f3, extends upward, and l'when raised is in 'position to strike(when 't'he'ca'm ring is revolved) the outer end ofa lever, h3, pivotedupon a stud, t3, on ycam ring'g'; and move the saidf lever to one sideagai'nst'the stress of the spring, jwhich, 'af-ter the pin f 3, haspassed, return's'the said llever to its normal position against the stoplpin, 153. Upon lthe stud, is, be-neath'the lever, h3, is pivoted aratchet wheehls, provided on -its periphery vwith'eight teeth Whichareengaged by a'pawl, m3, pivoted up'on the under side of the lever, h3,th-econstr'nction and arrangement being Such as that when the said leveris moved to one side by the pin, f3, the ratchet Wheelwill be moved tothe 'extent of one tooth.

n3 designates a cam connectedto the `ratchet `wheel, Z3, and providedyupon its periphery with four raisedwpoints or surfaces and'fourdepressed points, 'as is clearly shown inthe bottom plan detail, Fig. 7.The pin (o2) vextends u'p through the slot (p2) `of -t'he'cam'ri'ng insubstantially the Same radial yline as that i-n which'the cam (n3) islocated, and in operative proximity to Said cam, and the 'position ofthe parts issuch that the raised part oflsaid cam is adapted to engagethelsaid pinand move it and the ring (7a2) at this-point inward or tothe left in Fi-g.'8,'and when the cam (n3) vis again moved throughthe-medium of ratchetwheel (Z3), pawl (ma) and lever (h3), the saidpinwill be moved outward or to theright in Fig. 8,by a spring (03), Fig. 2l,into one of the idepressed parts ofthe cam (n3) and thering (k2) willconsequently be moved to the right, Fig. 8. ln this way the needles'controlled by the shifters, 3'2, willbe thrown out of, and brought intoaction, as has been described, as is necessary in the work of knittingheels and toes 'for Stockings. v

Upon the Side of the `ratchet wheel,fn, are larranged the cams,p3,one'of Whic'his adapted to raise and the other to lower the free end ofa lever, Q3, resting thereon.

A. rod, r3, (see Fig. 18,) extendsfupfromv the -free end of lever,iq3,beneath and incontact with a lever, vsi, which latter lever is held theinclined portion t2:2

down upon the rod, r3,bya spring Z. To the lever, s3, there is connecteda block, t3, the outer end of which is beveled and adapted when theblock is raised to engage a pin, us, projecting laterally from thepivoted block, v3, on the end of rack b ar, a', and raise the latter.The spring, i holds the lever, S3, down against the rod, r3, and pressesthe arm, g3, down against the action of the cams, p3. The other end ofthe spring is attached to the lever, k', and serves to raise the latterafter it has been depressed by the cam,j. See Fig. 18.

w3 is a bar arranged to have a limited sliding motion on suitablebearings as (w10), see Fig. 1, on the bed of the machine, and over thebar (a), and is connected to said bearings by a screw (w12) extendingthrough the slot (w11) in the bar (w3) and into said bearings so thatwhen the block (v3) is raised and the rack bar is reciprocated, the saidblock will strike one end ot' the bar, w3, and move it longitudinallyinthe directionof the arrow marked on the bar in Fig. 8, and the block,@tion the other end ot' the rack bar, a', will strike the other end ofthe bar, w3, and move it back in a direction opposite that indicated bythe arrow, and in this way reciprocate the last mentionedbarintermittently. The bar w3 is pivoted to one end of a lever ygpivotedat g1/10 the opposite end of which lever is pivoted at a bar '53,pivoted at `its ends to angular levers a4 pivoted at am. In the presentinstance the angular levers are shown as composed of two parts, thoughthis form is a convenience and not a necessity.

The inner free ends of the angular levers a4 are each provided with adouble pawl b4 having inclined faces on its outer side against which oneside or the other of a spring pressed angular cam c4 is adapted to bearto hold one part or the other of the double pawl in contact with theadjacent segmental slide o? with the teeth or notches formed in theouter edge of which the pawls are adapted to engage. It will now be seenthat if the slides q2 and 'U2 should be in the position in which theyare represented in Fig. S, and the member of each double pawl on theleft side of Fig. 8 should be engaged with the segmantal slides o2, andthe angular levers a4 should be oscillated through the medium of barsz3, w3 and lever ya, the slides q2 would be moved intermittently in thedirection of the arrows marked thereon, that is, to the left and theheels of the shifters 2 would be engaged by ot' the slot and carriedinto the concentric portion of said slot, throwing the needlescontrolled by the said shifters out of action, and if the member of eachdouble pawl on the lright side of Fig. 8 should be engaged with thesegmental slides r2, an opposite movement of the slides q2 would beeected that is to the right bringing the needles controlled bytheShifters 2 back into operation.

The gradual retirement of the needles controlled by the Shifters 'iandthe bringing of the said needles in like manner into operation, afterthe needles controlled by the shifters ,i2 have been thrown out ot'action, is necessary in the production of heel and toe work, as will beunderstood by those skilled in the art without further description, andis accomplished by my improvements in the manner explained. v

I have provided means for automatically shitting the double pawls ateach end ot the segmental slides v2, the said means consisting of ablock d'1 having projections 94j extending the one over one ot' thedouble pawls and the other one over the other ofthe said pawls, the saidblock being secured to the pawls. The prong c4 is cut away on its upperface, and the prong]E4 is similarly cutaway on its under face, so thatthe two prongs extend in different planes. g4 h4 are dogs secured to theends of the segmental slides, the former extending in a plane coincidentwith the plane ot' prongf4 and the latter in the same plane with theprong e, so that as the slides zo? are moved in the direction ot` thearrow, the dog h4 will engage the prong e4, shift the position ofthedouble pawl, and reverse the movement of the slides, until the dog g4engages the prong]04 when the pawls will be moved back to their firstposition and the slides will be 0perated as before.

It will be understood that the various parts are so positioned and timedas to effect the various movements and changes in proper order and time.

My invention also comprehends the introduction of an additional orthickening thread at the heels ani toes ot' stockings, and this isaccomplished by moving a yarn carrier carrying the thickening threadinto and out of action with the needles at the proper time, and thismechanism is particularly shown in Figs. 14, 15, and 16.

t4 designates the yarn guide provided with the eye j* from which theyarns are directly delivered to the hookspf the needles. 71:4 is theregular knitting yarn which passes down through the hole Z4 in the guidet4 and Cut through the eyejJr to the needles.

Z44 in Fig. 15 is a hole in the arm, n4, for the additional yarn, mi.The regular yarn, 7a4, passes through the slot in the arm, n4.

m4 is the thickening yarn which passes down through the hole Z4* in theend of the carrier n4, and when the latter is in the full line position(Fig. 14) out through the eyej4 to the needles.

The carrier n4 is constructed as an angular lever pivoted at its angularpoint, as at 044, upon the upper end ot' a bracket p4 secured onthehorizontal part of the cam-ring,f. The end of the outer arm ot thecarrier n4 is pressed by means of a spring p5 against the upper end ofan angular lever Q5 fulcrumed at r4 on a bracket S4. The pin (04) of thering (102) is arranged to be brought to bear against the lower arm (154)of lever (Q4) when IOO said ring is Ishogged or moved Fig.I 8, to throwthe needles controlledby the said ring and yits connecting shifters intoaction; that is, during round-and-round work, and so move the lever (Q5)and the yarn carrier (n4) to the dotted line position in Fig.14,pressing the extra or thickening yarn in toward the center of thecylinder and out of action, and when the ring (k2) is moved back bymeans of the spring (03) to its position for back-and-forth work, theyarn-carrier l (n4) will be actuated by the Spring bearing thereon tocarry its yarn into position to be knit, as shown in fulllines, theregular yarn, of course, continuingin action in back-and-forth as wellasin round-and-round work. 1 t o o In respect to the wheels, n and g,mounted upon the shaft, h and the cams onsaid wheels, it is to beobserved that this shaftis stationary during the straight knitting, andonly rotates during the heel and toe work. During the straight knitting,the lever, f', is in the cam-portion, t', on the wheel, g', theleveralim, '193, is between the cam-swells, as, and the lever, g3, isbetween the cams, p3, on said Wheel, n. As shown in the drawings, thereis a considerable space between the members of each set of cams; that isto say, between the cams, 193193, and between the cams, as a3, and thatthe camportion,{, has a similar distance between the two inclines ofsaid cam. During straight knitting the ends of these three severallevers lie between their respective cams. At the beginning of the heeland toe work, the shaft, h. rotates by mechanism already described, thewheels, g and n', also rotate, the rst cam in each one of the three setsstrikes its respective lever and raises 'it in the case of qs and p3,and in the case of f', shifts it. The wheels, n and g', continue theirrotation, the peripheries of said Wheels bearing against theirrespective levers until valmost an entire revolution of said wheels hasbeen made, whenthe other cams, 3 and a3 and the second portion of thecam, fi', operate the levers; in the case of t" to shift the clutch; inthe case of b3 to shift the ring; in the case of g3 to lower the levers.l A sufficient space is provided between the members of each of theseseveral sets of cams to allow for the movement of the machinery inchanging from rotary to reciprocatory mo-l ticn, and vice versa. y

Y Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described a wayof constructing and using the same, though without attempting to setforth all of the forms in which it maybe made, or all of the modes ofits use, it is declared that what is claimed is- 1 1. Aknitting machineembracing in its construction a needle cylinder provided with deepenedgrooves, needles provided with extended tails in said grooves,a groovedneedleshifter bed, needle Shifters arranged to slide inthe grooves ofthe said bed and engaging thetails of certain of the needles to move thelatter intheir grooves, and the slides engagtothe left in ing the needleshifters to actnate the same, notched segmental plates connected to saidslides, the bar w3, levers a4 having double pawls engaging said plates,and connections between the said bar and levers, whereby the needles maybe gradually retired and brought into operation to narrow and widen,asset forth.

'2. A knitting machine embracing in its con-- struction a needlecylinder, provided with deepened grooves, needles provided with extendedtails in the said grooves, a grooved bed, a2, needle shifters,j2,engaging the tails of certain of the needles and a ring, 7a2, adapted tobe moved horizontally engaging the said shifters, whereby apredetermined number of needles may be rendered inoperative in theknitting of heel and toe work, asset forth.v

3. A knitting machine embracingin its construction a needle cylinderprovided with deepened grooves, needles provided with extended tails inthe said grooves, a grooved bed, a2, needle shifters, i2, engaging thetails of certain of the needles to move the latter in their grooves andthe slides, q2, 'engaging` the needle shifters to actuate the same,combined with the needle shifters, j2, engaging certain other of theneedles, and a movable ring, 7a2, engaging the said needle shifters,j2,and means for actuating the said ring and said slides, g2, whereby aportion of the needles may be rendered inoperative, and the remain ingneedles gradually retired and brughtinto operationtov narrow and widen,as set forth.

4. A knitting machine comprising in itsconstruction a needle cylinderprovided with deepened needle grooves, the needles therein, the ring orcylinder, a', provided with the slotted and groov'ed flange bed, a2, theneedle shifters, i2, in the grooves of the flange bed engaging theneedles, the slotted slides,rq2, on the upper face of the flange bed toengage the needle Shifters, the segmental slides, 02, on the under faceof the flange bed, pins,oc2, extending through slots of the flange bedconnectingy the slides, q2, and v2, and means to actuate the slides, c?,as set forth.

5,. The needle cylinder and needles, and cam ring, combined with theneedle Shifters, jz, and the ring, [02, engaging the said shifters, saidring being adapted to be moved laterally so as to be eccentric orconcentric with the needle cylinder, as set forth.

6. The needle cylinder and needles, the cam ring, and needle shifters,jwith the heels, m2 n2, combined with the laterally movable ring, 7a2,arranged between the said heels, whereby by the movement ofthe saidring, the,needle shifters may be moved, as set forth. v

7. The needle cylinder and needles, and the needle shifters,j2, combinedwith the ring, 7a2, engaging the said shifters, the flanged cam ring orbed provided with a slot pin, o2, connected with the said ring andextending through the said slot, lever, h3, the ratchet wheel, Z3, apawl connected with lever, h3, to

2, provided actuate the' ratchet wheel, a cam, n3, connected with theratchet wheel and adapted to act on-the pin, o2, to move itin onedirection, a spring to move it in the opposite direction, and means toactuate the lever, as set forth.

8. The needle cylinder and needles, the cam ring, and the slottedflanged bed, a2, combined with the needle Shifters, t2, the slides, Q2,provided with the slots, n2, to engage the heels of the Shifters, thenotched segmentall slides, v2, means extending through the slots of theanged bed connecting' the slides, and means for actuating the slides,o?, as set forth.

9. A knitting machine adapted for knitting heel-and-toe work comprisingin its construction a needle cylinder and needles and cam ring, slottedslides (q2) for rendering the narrowing needles operative andinoperative, a rack bar, c', and connections with the cam ring forreciprocating the latter,and connections between the rack bar andslotted slides (q2) for rendering the narrowing needles operative andinoperative, whereby the said slotted slides (q2) may be actuated andcontrolled by the rack barin exact time with the reciprocating movementsof the cam ring, as set forth.

10. Means for introducing a thickening yarn consisting of thecombination, with the cam ring, of the open-eye yarn guide, a pivotedyarn carrier, spring, p5, the shifting ring, k2, and pin,'o4,operatively connected with the pivoted yarn carrier as set forth.

11. Means for introducing a thickening yarn consisting of thecombination, with the cam ring, of the open-eye yarn guide, a pivotedyarn carrier constructed as an anglelever, the spring (p5), a lever foroperating upon one arm of the said angle-lever, the shifting ring, k2,and pin, o4, for acting upon the last-mentioned lever as set forth.

12. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, a laterally sliding ring, connections betweenthe instep needles and said ring, and automatic means connectedtherewith for sliding said ring to throw the instep needles into and outof operation as set forth.

13. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, a yarn device, a laterally sliding ring,connections between the instep needles and said ring and between theyarn device and said ring, and automatic means connected therewith forsliding said ring to throw the instep needles into and out of operationand to operate said yarn device as set forth.

14. In an automatic circular knitting ma=I chine, in combination, aneedle cylinder, knitting needles,knitting cams,and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, a yarn device, a

Sliding ring, connections between the instep needles and said ringautomatic means connected with one side of said ring for sliding thelatter, and means connected with the op 7c posite side of said ringarranged to operate the yarn device upon the sliding of said ring as setforth.

15. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knittingneedles, knitting cams and complemental stitch-formingmechanism, a yarn device, a sliding ring to control said yarn device andthe instep needles, connections between the instep needles and said ringand between the yarn device and said ring, slotted slides to control thenarrowing needles, a reciprocating bar Ct', devices between said bar andring for actuating andcontrolling said slides and ring as set forth.

16. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitvtingneedles, knittingcams` andcomplemental stitch-formingmechanism, a yarn device, a sliding ring to control said yarn device'and the instep needles, connections between the instep needles and saidring and between the yarn device and said ring, slotted slides tocontrol the narrowing needles, meansincludinga clutch mechanism and thebar tt for changing the motion of the machine from rotary toreciprocatory and vice versa, and devices between said bar and slidesand ring and clutch in virtue of which said barcontrols and times saidslides and ring and clutch.

17. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination,a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams,and complemental stitchformingmechanism, a yarn device, a horizontally sliding ring arranged to throwthe instep needles into and out of operation and to operate the yarndevice, connections between the instep needles and said ring and betweenthe yarn device and said ring oscillatory slides for throwing thenarrowing needles into and out of operation, a main driving shaft, meansincluding a clutch mechanism and the bar ot for changing the motion ofthe machine from rotary to reciprocatory and vice versa and devicesbetween said bar and ring and between said barand clutch in virtue ofwhich said ring is shifted before the motionfof the knitting cams ischanged from rotory to reciprocatory and vice versa.

18. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knittingcams, and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, a horizontallysliding ring arranged to throwthe instep needles into and out of operation, connections between theinstep needles and said ring, oscillatory slides for throwing thenarrowing needles into and out of operation, means including a clutchmechanism and the bar a for changing the motion of the machine fromrotary to reciprocatory, and vice versa, and devices between said barand ring,and between said bar and clutch, and between said bar andslides in virtue of which said ring is shifted ICO IIO

IZO

before th-e motion of the knitting cams is changed from rotary torecipro'cat'ory and vice versa, and b'efore'said slides are put intooperation.

1'9. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams and compl'ementalstitch-forming mechanism, an automatically operated laterally movablering arranged to throw the instep needles into and out of operation, andconnections between the instep needles and said ring as set forth.

20. In an automatic circular knitting inachine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams and complemental stitch-form'ing mechanism, needle Shifters, an automatically operatedlaterally movable ring, and suitable connections ,between said Shiftersand said ring as set forth.

2l. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination, a needlecylinder, knitting needles, knitting cams and complementalstitch-forming mechanism, needle Shifters connected to the instep andnarrowing needles, an automaticaily operated laterally movable ring andoscillatory slides arranged to engage the Shifters upon the instep'andnarrowing and widening needles, respectively,a main driving shaft, areciprocatory bar and devices between said shaft and bar and betweensaid bar and ring and between said bar and slides, in virtue of whichsaid ring and slides are actuated and controlled from said bar.

22. In an automatic circular knitting machine, in combination,an'open-eye'yarnguide, a pivoted yarn-carrier, Va laterally movable ringand automatic means for moving said ring, and connections between saidring and carrier as set forth.

23. In a knitting machine, in combination, a main driving shaft (i), apulley loose on said shaft, a gear (l) also loose on said shaft andconnected with the pulley, a gear (m) loose on the shaft, a collar (o)fast on said shaft adjacent to the gear (m), a clutch roll s between thegear (l) and collar (o), a rack-bar (al) engaging the gear (m), andgearing intermediate of the gear (l) and the rack-bar, substantiallyasand for the purpose described as set forth.

24. In a `knitting machi-ne,`i-n combination, a main driving shaft, asliding clutch part on said shaft, a rock-shaft (b') having meansarranged to engage said clutch part, the camwheel (9"), the gears (l)and (m),the rack bar (d), and actu-ating devices between said bar andgear l and between said bar and cam wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name Vto this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 31st day of March, A. D.189i.

WALTER H. STEWART.

Witnesses:

F. N. PARSONS, MARGARET A. DEvINnY.

